Dunhill a happy hunting ground for Scots who feel at home on links

Published on Tuesday 4 October 2005 00:21

THE news that constructive talks have already taken place which should lead to the return of the Dunhill Links next autumn over the same three links courses is sure to be music to the ears of Scotland's professional golfers.

Since the tournament began in 2001, three of the five stagings of the $5million championship have been won by Scots - Colin Montgomerie, who rose to 16th in the world rankings yesterday on the back of Sunday's victory, Stephen Gallacher in 2004 and Paul Lawrie in 2001.

Since no Scot had won on the European Tour since Gallacher 12 months ago, the importance for players brought up on links golf of competing over three of the country's finest seaside courses can hardly be overestimated.

Although the support of the home galleries is undoubtedly helpful, the fact only one Scot, Montgomerie, has won the Scottish Open since 1986, and no Scot has won the Johnnie Walker at Gleneagles since it began in 1999, suggests the advantage of playing in front of friends and family can be exaggerated.

Beside the sea in early autumn when the wind blows and the temperature drops, however, is another story. Brought up playing links golf, most Scots are well suited to competing in the Dunhill because their natural ball flight is low and piercing.

In blustery conditions on a links such as Carnoustie, Kingsbarns or the Old Course, it's all but impossible to put together a winning score if you hit the ball high in the air off the tee.

Of course, there are other important elements attached to playing well on a links - using your imagination round the greens, for example, and learning to play by feel - which play into the hands of Scots.

Gallacher, who made a stalwart defence of the Dunhill and finished in a share of seventh on Sunday, believes that a lack of fear of windy conditions stems from the experience Scots gain during their amateur careers.

"All of the amateur stuff I played was always in high winds," said the former Walker Cup player. "The Scottish guys love to play on the links. We don't play enough of it and a lot of people don't like it. They don't like having to play bump and run shots and we all grew up with that. So it should play into our hands."

While Lawrie's victory in 2001 was predictable in as much as he'd won the Open at Carnoustie in even tougher conditions two years earlier, Montgomerie's success was surprising because he'd never previously been at his best in strong winds.

When the Scot claimed the runner-up spot behind Tiger Woods at St Andrews during the Open in July, there was a bit of breeze but no suggestion of a gale. Anyone seeking confirmation of how wind could unsettle Monty only needs to think back to the Open at Muirfield in 2002 when 24 hours after carding 64 he signed for 84.

A player of tempo and rhythm, Montgomerie would privately concur he didn't like the guesswork attached to playing golf in strong wind. His success in chasing Woods at the Open, however, seemed to transform the Scot's attitude to testing conditions.

Although he played well enough to win on Sunday, it was his glorious 65 over the Old Course in a tricky wind on Friday which confirmed how, at the age of 42, Montgomerie has come to terms at last with challenging weather.

Always a player who kept the ball in play off the tee and hit his iron shots to a precise yardage, the Scot, in his prime, preferred the certainty of US Open courses to the guesswork of linksland golf.

"Now I think I've conquered that," he said. "I always did hit reasonable shots - I just didn't really like the wind as such. Some people enjoy it while others don't. But my 65 won the tournament. That was a very good round of golf."

If there's a link between his own success, and those of his countrymen, Montgomerie reckons that years of experience of playing St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns gives the Scots an advantage.

"It's amazing, when you think about it. I remember Paul winning the way he did, scrambling out of the Valley of Sin, Stephen winning in a play-off last year and now myself. So the crowd must play some role, And, obviously, Stephen and Paul are as experienced around here as I am. It's great to be part of that group."

Since Scotland's success rate of three wins in five at the Dunhill compares favourably with an overall tally of 120 wins in 1,064 European Tour events, it was encouraging to hear Peter German of tournament organisers, IMG, predict the event will be back at the home of golf.

"Nothing has been finalised as yet, but we expect to make an announcement before the end of the year. It will be over the same three courses, and the format will remain exactly the same."